L.D. 439, sponsored by Rep. Suzanne Salisbury, D-Westbrook, would provide $100,000 to families of emergency medical services staff whose suicide is determined to be death in the line of duty.

Well and good, I suppose, but it does nothing to address why these essential workers might feel impelled to end their lives: They take stressful jobs for very little pay; they face highly traumatic and sometimes dangerous situations, and many of them work long shifts with few comforts. And, rather than paying them well, or providing counseling, time off or other support, the best we can do is a promise that their survivors will see a generous benefit?

That hardly seems enough.

Joe O’Donnell
Portland

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